Marijuana Legalization Discussed In PA Senate For 1st Time

PENNSYLVANIA — With decriminalization of recreational cannabis already in de facto effect in some municipalities around the state, Pennsylvania lawmakers took a big — and to many observers, inevitable — step on Monday.

For the first time, the prospect of legalization was addressed at a state Senate committee meeting. Proposed legislation has lingered in both bodies of the legislature for years, on an off, without this kind of action from the GOP-controlled committee.

Gov. Tom Wolf called it "the first real step" towards legalizing weed.

"I'm excited to see this moving forward. It's what Pennsylvanians say they want," the governor said, referencing public opinion polls oft-cited by Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who has spearheaded the legalization charge. "For me to sign, legislation must rightfully include decriminalization and restorative justice measures."

The bill has some bipartisan support. Committee chairperson State Sen. Mike Regan (R-31) has expressed a desire to work with Democrats on the issue.

“Obviously, marijuana is not new,” Regan said this week. “It is already out there. It is already being used by millions of people – young and old, far and wide."

Regan also voiced a point that is the crux of some recent proposed legislation: legalizing weed gives the state the opportunity to tax it and use it productively, instead of allowing the money to go into the black market where it currently lies.

"(The current system is) putting billions of dollars into the hands of violent criminals, and they are risking consuming a product that could be laced with substances such as fentanyl, crack cocaine, embalming fluid or even mold, fungus, or other unknown pathogens," he added.

Proposed bills have included complex structures for how the state would handle tax income from weed. The bill would create money for the state through a permitting structure for growers, processors, and dispensaries. The funds would go to after-school programs for youth, student loan forgiveness, and affordable housing.

In addition, the bill includes the Cannabis Clean Slate initiative, which expunges all marijuana-related offenses from the records of non-violent drug offenders.

Much of Monday's hearing focused on law enforcement aspects of the idea, and did not dive into further specifics of legalization.